The clear concern in Jay’s voice was such a juxtaposition with Anton’s cold, impersonal tone that it brought an instant lump to my throat.
“I’m… No, I’m not,” I said honestly. “But I will be. I’m going to stay in my room now until Des comes to pick me up for the game.”
He sighed. “I wish I was there with you.”
Me too. But I couldn’t say it aloud. “I’ll be okay, I promise. I won’t go anywhere until I know it’s safe. Please don’t worry about me. Just concentrate on the game, and I’ll see you after the meeting if I can.”
“Fuck the game,” he said roughly. “I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you. You’re the only thing that matters to me.”
“You matter to me too,” I whispered. I knew I shouldn’t have said those words, but I wanted him to know.
“What’s with all the secrecy?” Liana immediately asked when I’d let her into my room and locked the door behind us.
I gave her a quick rundown of the events of the previous day, leaving out what had happened at the barrow. I couldn’t let myself think about how my private space had been violated, and I still had no idea what they were even looking for. Every time it crossed my mind, nausea rose in my stomach, and I couldn’t allow it to take hold. I had to get through the rest of today, get to the manor, and find out what the hell was going on.
“Wow.” Shuffling closer to me on the bed, she wrapped her arm around my waist. “My girl is badass. I can’t believe you stabbed someone. Well…actually, I can. I always knew you had it in you.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “Thanks? I think? It still feels like a weird dream. I just reacted in the moment.”
“You did a good job. How’s Dan now? Have you spoken to him?”
“Jay’s dad said he’d be fine last night, but I haven’t spoken to him myself.”
She jumped to her feet, heading over to the small shoulder bag she’d dumped on my desk. Taking out her phone, she tapped at the screen, and a few moments later, ringing sounded from the speaker.
“Daniel,” she said as soon as the call connected.
“My favourite Lazovsky. What did I do to be granted the pleasure of your beautiful voice?”
Liana rolled her eyes, flopping back down next to me. “I’m here with Nova, and she told me what happened yesterday.”
“Oh… Are you calling to offer to nurse me back to health? That position has already been filled…although I could make an exception for you.”
“Ugh. I don’t want to hear about whatever poor woman you’ve coerced into waiting on you hand and foot. Be serious for a minute. I just wanted to see if you were okay. Do you need anything?”
Daniel exhaled loudly through the speaker. “Yeah, I’m okay. Got a fucking massive lump on my head, but all I can do is wait for it to go down a bit. There was no way I could put a helmet over the top of it, so I told your dad I’m down with the flu. Keep the story straight if he asks you about me, yeah?”
“There is no danger of my dad asking me anything about you. Ever,” Liana said drily. “I’m glad you’re okay, though. If you do need anything, text me.”
“Or me,” I added. “Dan…thanks for everything you did yesterday. If you hadn’t managed to get rid of one of their bikes and sabotage that one I stopped… I don’t want to think about what might have happened, but I know the situation would be a lot worse.”
“I did what I had to. I just wish I’d managed to stab one of the fuckers. You and Jay got to have all the fun.”
“Not sure I’d call it fun,” I murmured. “Anyway, thank you. I’m glad you’re okay.”
Tuning out as he flirted with Liana, I stood, crossing to my desk and opening the top drawer. Something had occurred to me.
The sketchpad I’d left in the barrow was identical to several others I kept in my room. I always bought the same brand.
What if the thing they’d been looking for was in one of my other sketchpads?
I opened the top one, flipping through it until I reached my latest set of drawings.
They were all of Jay.
38
JAY
